Stieb is the guy who was way, way better than Morris but you're right about longevity, Morris has him in IP by 3800 to 2800. Even with that disparity in IP Stieb still leads him in WAR by a wide margin, 57 to 43, and by half a run in ERA. I think I was happier when Morris wasn't in, but he isn't the only mediocre pitcher in the Hall, so it's not worth a big emotional investment one way or the other.

Oh it sure does. Someone was talking about the '96 team a couple of days ago and I started think about one of their key pickups, Brian Williams. Not a Rule 5, but a huge free agent signing with so much talent that the team couldn't decide on whether he was a 20-game winner or a 40-save closer. I've got to stop now, I'm hyperventilating.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willibr01.shtml

Oh definitely, that smell on the cards was one of the main attractions. I actually chewed the gum too. The word "iconic" is so over-used today, broadcasters use it to mean "moderately famous", but that baseball card gum smell is truly iconic of its era. I could blindfold you, pass a stick of that gum in front of your nose, and you'd be instantly transported back, not just to the baseball cards but to the music and the automobiles and your school friends, and how you passed the time on your summer holidays.

When Larry Sheets first came up, people were thinking "you're putting that guy on a team that already has Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken? That's not fair." It never really happened for him though. He had a nice age 27 year and then absolutely stunk after that, including his final year (Tigers 1990). Part of his problem seems to have been just staying on the field, he only exceeded 400 PA's twice.

Martin was talked about last year. I think that the general consensus was that we didn't want him. But that was when JaCoby was going to be good, and maybe even Gose. So now, sure why not, as long as he really is that good defensively.